A televangelist admitted in front of a television audience that he cheated on his wife, an announcement he made to thwart people he said were trying to extort millions of dollars from him.

The Rev. Marcus Lamb made the confession Tuesday night on his show "Celebration" with his wife Joni Lamb by his side.

The couple also displayed a special message about the incident on the website of Daystar Television Network, the couple's television network.

"At the top of the program, the Lambs shared a compelling, transparent account of a personal challenge in their marriage that occurred several years ago, involving an inappropriate relationship between Marcus and another woman," the message said.

The couple explained that there were three people who said they would expose the affair if the couple's ministry did not pay them $7.5 million.

Daystar Television Network is based in Texas and airs some of the most popular evangelists in the nation, including T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer.

soundoff(1,130 Responses)

Lisa Libra

Now that I know I can post......
1000 years from now the people of this planet will be laughing at us and our fairy tale reilgion. The stand up comics will have a feild day!
It must be crowded in some of thses Jesus Freaks heads with Santa Clause, The Great Pumpkin, and The Easter Bunny running around up there, I wonder how they function?

Religion is for retards- Bill Mahr. Clearly the people who give up their cash for likes of scam artists with a smiile and a Bible are retards. Typical hypocrite "Christians" gets caught with his pants down and SHE is smiling????? The wives are the ones who make me sick. She'll stay with him amd 'forgive' and.....next year we will hear he paid underage girls for boob shots.

I wonder when ANY of them will practice whatthey preach? How many more will get caught holding the kitty?

December 1, 2010 at 12:26 pm |

Dan

Who are the idiots who watch these programs and donate to these televangelists??? Why not donate to someplace more worthy, say an orphanage, domestic shelter, or a real church??? This just makes me sad that there are so many gullible Americans out there.

December 1, 2010 at 12:25 pm |

Thomas

You answered your own question in the 4th word of your post.

December 1, 2010 at 2:20 pm |

Proart

his wife is hot!

December 1, 2010 at 12:25 pm |

Spiker715

Really...a televangelist cheated? That is a total shock!

December 1, 2010 at 12:25 pm |

maine liberal

If there is a man who commits adultery with another man's wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulter and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10

how is that strict interpretation of the bible working out for you pastor

December 1, 2010 at 12:25 pm |

Mark

Thankfully, only people that don't read the bible interpret one verse like that without considering the thousands of other verses in the bible that talk about grace and forgiveness. Those of us that want the best for everyone in the world are sad when we see someone fail and hope and pray they can get their lives back together. I think if your first reaction is "haha you hypocrite I hope you die" that you need to do a little soul searching and ask yourself why you have such a cold dark heart?

December 1, 2010 at 12:47 pm |

Ryan

Mark, first of all nobody said he should die......except for the Bible. I think its hilarious whenever someone points out an awful flaw in "Bible Speak". Usually the believers will come up with some dopey answer, about other "passages" or "dont take it literally". Well, if it really is the word of God.....wouldnt you follow it literally?
It says what it says. I dont care, I dont get all flustered talking religion with believers. But the Bible is a dated book, with dated passages about life many years ago.
Most believers are good people. If you need something else to keep you straight (besides common sense), and Chritianity and the Bible will do that for you, go for it. I dont have a problem. Just dont start trying to put Bible speak into real laws. Other than that, have fun!

December 1, 2010 at 2:06 pm |

Scott

@Mark: Are you saying there might be contradictions in god’s perfect, immutable and eternally laws?
Blastfamy!!!

December 1, 2010 at 2:24 pm |

mikeyd74

so they should just edit out the parts that make you feel queasey? how many more excuses do you have for your religion mark?

Christians are not under the law of the Old Testament, we have a new and bette covenant, Jesus Christ which is the fulfillment of the law. Many people don't understand this concept and think the Bible contradicts itself because they read something out of the OT and wonder why the Christians don't do these things.
What other book do you know that is thousands of years old and still relevant. The Bible isn't outdated it is so current it would blow your mind you just have to understand what you are reading first. Ever heard of Pilgrims Progress? Even a skeptic can be turned into a believer. I dare you to study the Bible to see if it REALLY contradicts itself or is this just some more of satans lies that you have been fed since birth and didn't bother to search for the truth on your own?
The devil is a liar...
"in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will"

December 1, 2010 at 8:49 pm |

Joe in Colorado

I want his wife. She's sitting there smiling like she's reminiscing about how it gave it good to that other woman. That's the wife I want.

Is that bad?

December 1, 2010 at 12:24 pm |

Ryan

Hey Joe, funny post. But do you honestly think she is smiling like that behind closed doors? That is all for show.

December 1, 2010 at 1:56 pm |

Thomas

She is smiling because she knows she has her cheating POS husband over a barrel.

This jerk will be taking more money out of his "church" and buying her lots and lots of shiny things.

She is forgiving him all the way to the bank.

December 1, 2010 at 2:16 pm |

Mojonaamdi

Not to worry. his flock will forgive him and then send him millions of $$$.
What a country?
I wonder wat the apologists for this man would be saying if he was a man of the coth from a certain other religion.

December 1, 2010 at 12:23 pm |

Terry5

The fact that another televangelist admitted wrong doing has nothing to do with your or my beliefs in God. Each person has his own walk with Christ. My belief/knowing God does not hindge on another persons actions. Also, God is not in the sky, he is everywhere. It does not matter how many people support your disbelief, Christ is real and has been for thousands of years. You ever wonder why we are talking about a man that lived for only 33 years, born poor, he was never a king and he never own anything... It is the power that is assoicated his name that keeps him in our hearts. The proof of God is everywhere but you choose to throw it away. Christ is not something we found in a book or that someone presuaded us to believe. He was something we found and when u find Him you will never let Him go. I hope you all find Him too.

December 1, 2010 at 12:23 pm |

Marc

Oh yeah Terry. You can let him go and along with him, you can let all of the other guilts you have because of him.

December 1, 2010 at 12:47 pm |

Terry5

Marc, I have no guilts.

December 1, 2010 at 12:58 pm |

Ryan

Terry, I repect your opinion. I dont believe in Christianity, but wont dog others that do. But you need to understand something here- for thousands of years, you could legally be killed for saying you dont believe in Jesus. That helps in keeping his name out there, his longevity if you will. Christianity was often spread by blood. Christian conquerers came and tried to make people belive in this stuff. If they didnt convert, they were simply killed. That is one of the reasons why you dont have original South and Central Amercian peoples in those lands. That and the spread of diesese.
It seems like quite a few people who believe in this stuff dont have a clear grasp on human history, and most DONT want to.
Most people are afraid to die. That is logical, the fear of death. It makes people feel good to think there is a "heaven" where you go after you die, a place of eternal life (which everybody wants). I think most people will believe anything you tell them if it eases their fears.
Have a safe Christmas everyone.

December 1, 2010 at 1:54 pm |

Jillian

@Ryan: What do you think is happening all over the world (the Middle East, China, India, etc) for followers of Christ today? Many are even killed by their own family members. Christianity is not the only religion to have it's crusade. Muslims, Hindus, and atheist Communists are also proud killers of those that have different (or any) beliefs. None of it is right. But you can't just point fingers at dead Christian guys and ignore those that are dying today for their brave faith in Jesus Christ.

December 1, 2010 at 4:55 pm |

NCGolfer

I think you guys have the wrong idea about Christianity. I am know biblical scholar but this is simply why I believe in the Hope of a Savior in Jesus Christ. The Bible is summed up in this: No one is perfect and we have all sinned (be it in actions, thinking or both) The bible says the God demands a payment for sin in the form of death. He realized we all would sin and sent Jesus His Son to become sin for us and die to make the payment of death so we would not have to pay it ourselves. So I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour in the hope that he has paid for my sin so when I die a natural life I will die in a spirtual one. Now that is my faith speaking, my human thought to this is simply that if my hope is misplaced then i am no worse off than anyone, but I believe that Christ is Saviour. I would ask those of you who doubt Christianity as real to just find out for yourself. Please dont look to any human to show you the way or make some perfect Christian Walk for you to see cause it wont happen, people will let you down, Christians or not, they will fail. We all know true relationships when we find them, and I believe that is all God wants a true realationship, NOT RELIGION! So please try to have then realationship and if He doesnt meet you there if you really seek HIm then you have nothing to worry about. Please just find out for yourself and do not listen to ANYONE else (including me! I was just sharing what worked for me).

December 1, 2010 at 12:22 pm |

mdntbl

Can I just say that as someone who is sick of hearing self righteous "holier-than-thou" types tell everyone what is wrong with them, I am so glad to hear (what I consider) to be a true Christian speak rationally about his/her views and take on God. I'll be honest, I get tired of atheists too, they drain my hope a little bit every time they disregard the beliefs of the religious, like they are somehow less than human. But to me, the arguments are one in the same on both extremes: I am right. You are wrong. I'm sure of it and you can't change my mind. You on the other hand calmly and rationally articulated your OPINION. And it's not a bad one if you ask me.

December 1, 2010 at 2:43 pm |

Gordon

I do believe that God is merciful and forgives us, that is what is so amazing about Him. I do think when the affair happened he should of stepped down from his ministry. This is only coming to light because he was going to be exposed. This is an example of why Christians need to stop coming across as judgemental and hateful. Why is it that those who have been shown so much grace come across as so self-righteous. Shameful.

December 1, 2010 at 12:22 pm |

Logic

Why is it news that a con-man cheated on his wife?

December 1, 2010 at 12:21 pm |

auguron

It's only news to those who are blind to reality. It's no secret they are all conartists.

December 5, 2010 at 1:24 am |

MikeMa

Also, it seems this lowlife is 'coming clean' to protect his wallet not for any god given reason. One for the extortionists.

December 1, 2010 at 12:21 pm |

boydanb203

Another one :that do as I said and not as I do, kind guy" when are people going to wake up and walk way form organized religion and find the real God within???

December 1, 2010 at 12:21 pm |

John

LOGICAL? The foundation that Athesiem stands on is the premise that "Something" came from "Nothing". Try doing your scientific thesis on that and see if you get your doctorate. Not too Logical id say....

December 1, 2010 at 12:20 pm |

Jim_Missouri

John commented, "LOGICAL? The foundation that Athesiem stands on is the premise that "Something" came from "Nothing". Try doing your scientific thesis on that and see if you get your doctorate. Not too Logical id say...."

This is true only if you believe the Genesis version of creation. Science does not necessarily hold that life "came from nothing." If you can stand to read something other than the Bible, you might check out the (awkwardly named) theory of panspermia which hypothesizes live has spread over the entire universe on comets. Sounds crazy, but the evidence is much stronger for this than the Genesis version (which has no valid scientific evidence).

One of the common mistakes fundamentalists (Christian or otherwise) make is to quote holy texts as their "proof." If you listener doesn't believe the text is valid or divine, you've already lost the argument.

December 1, 2010 at 12:30 pm |

Johnny

The religious have a hard time accepting that all the matter in the universe simply existed and that some of it came together via electromagnetism, gravity and other natural physical forces to form planets, stars and life forms.

They'd rather believe the "more likely" scenario that a super-fantastic God being preceded it and that he "created" it all.

December 1, 2010 at 12:30 pm |

A Jew Like Jesus

Stephen Hawking would disagree.

December 1, 2010 at 12:44 pm |

Lauren

@Jew Like Jesus – God>Steven Hawking. Case closed.

December 1, 2010 at 1:11 pm |

Guest

Is not religion based on the same concept? Where did god come from if not from nothing?

December 1, 2010 at 1:23 pm |

Arkham

Jim, Johnny:
First off I'm a Christian, but I do believe that if Christianity is true it should be able to stand up to the hard questions. Therefore, I'm interested in hearing your arguments for atheism. I've never been able to get an atheist to give me a more convincing version of origins than is present in Genesis but maybe you have information that I don't. Jim, Panspermia does not claim to address the origins of life, only the way in which it spread to earth. Do you have better evidence about how it came about in the first place? Johnny, you seem to be promoting the idea that the material universe is eternal. How do you reconcile that with the Second Law of Thermodynamics?

December 1, 2010 at 1:38 pm |

Scott

OK so if the atheists have a problem with something from nothing for the universe, where did your god come from?

December 1, 2010 at 2:01 pm |

cschick2317

@Jim...

Life being spread by comets doesn't cover how the comets or life were even created to begin with. Christianity may involved 'something from nothing'...but ultimately something DID have to come from nothing...unless you want to say all the mass in the universe has always been here. Which is something else that would be impossible to explain.

December 1, 2010 at 2:09 pm |

habakak

Arkham – Genesis is NO explanation of how life was created/started on earth and not fact at all. Was the writer of the book (Moses) to the creation that took place in Genesis? So how can you take as fact something written in a book by someone who was not present at the time of the event? Also, we might find 100 years from now that the 2nd law of Thermodynamics is wrong. Just like we eventually figured out the earth is NOT flat and NOT the center of the universe. Just because we can't explain something now does not mean 'God' created it. Eventually we came around to understanding the Greek god's were childish fables. In time all gods and religions goes this way. It gets demistified and the truth gets exposed. That will happen to christianity before Jesus returns....

December 1, 2010 at 2:14 pm |

Arkham

Well the theistic answer to that is typically that God is not a created being. The Law of Conservation of Mass means that something can't be created from nothing...but as Aristotle pointed out back in the day, the fact that something does exist means that at some point there must have been an Uncaused Cause, which we would call God.

Again, I'm not attempting to teach here by any means, nor debate. I just want to hear a sound argument. If I'm in error on a point I would appreciate some enlightenment.

December 1, 2010 at 2:21 pm |

Arkham

Habakak: Your argument that the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics "might" someday be exposed as false contradicts your later point that we are moving toward truth. Also, if we can't trust anything that is written by someone who did not directly witness it, most of our scientific knowledge goes out the window. You aren't really making a coherent argument...

December 1, 2010 at 2:35 pm |

thersa

Arkham- To revert to the theistic argument for God that he is somehow not a created being, or that he is the Uncaused Cause, defeats the attempt to argue this scientifically, if it can be done at all. Since the Law of Conservation of Matter as far as we know is inviolable and we obviously exist, then matter has always existed. To ponder otherwise involves scenarios where inviolable laws no longer apply, Gods appear from thin air, and men with bad taste in clothing (see the picture at the beginning of this thread) take advantage of other people by pretending to know something more than they do.
If you have some interest in learning more about the origins of life on this planet you might try googling self-replicating RNA. Have a good day.

December 1, 2010 at 3:49 pm |

rgb

Actually - speaking as a professional physicist - the law of nature that applies is the "Law of Conservation of Mass-Energy" which basically states that we have NEVER OBSERVED the creation or destruction of ANYTHING WHATSOEVER, we have only observed it being moved around and changed from one form to another, one place to another.

We have no reason to believe, based on empirical science or "logic", that "creation" in the sense used by religionists has ever occurred even a single time. We certainly haven't observed it. Nor is there any room in the laws of nature for it to occur. Nor does it make the slightest bit of sense from the point of view of e.g. information theory or entropy.

So sure, I'd be perfectly happy to write a Ph.D. dissertation in which it is openly acknowledged that the Universe is governed by conservation laws that explicitly exclude creation. I did.

rgb

December 1, 2010 at 4:30 pm |

seanm

I am a catholic and I am sorry athesism is not something came from nothing. Thats the antievolution slogan literal interpritationist make when reading the bibel. Evolution explaines adeptations over time due to enviorment and biological influences. That is why you get the diversity of life we have now. Does Science say for certain how life started billions of years ago...NO but you cant say because of that the genesis account is true because of it. two diffferent arguments people evolution is a fact and the age of the earth is to. And for you people who belive in the literal word open you're minds to the idea that its a story. If i tell you how the world began as a god and told you then you passed it along and 2000 years later after passing it down and among people it looks more like a collection of analygies and theology. Well then I ask bc the story has been passed changed parts moved around does it negate the fact that i told it?

December 1, 2010 at 4:56 pm |

Arkham

RGB: Thank you for the informed response! Obviously I'm not a physicist, but you seem to be saying that your research disproves the Big Bang Theory. Is this correct? If matter has never been created, are you saying that the universe is in fact eternal?

Has your work been published? I'd be happy to read it.

December 1, 2010 at 5:37 pm |

Mark

IT IS KNOW THAT THE BEGINNING OF GENEIS THROUGH THE END OF NOAH IS NOT TRUE. People have a common misbelief that the section is literal. It is PRE-HISTORY. Don't take it to heart.

December 1, 2010 at 6:20 pm |

Scott ATL

@Scott. He IS the "come from"

December 2, 2010 at 8:32 am |

Math noobster

0/0=1, Because anything divided by itself is 1. Or is it, Because anything divided by 0 is 0? Look at these imperfections your 'perfect' god has caused. Get off of your religious high horse.

December 2, 2010 at 9:29 pm |

Chad

Guys, there actually IS something in between belief in the utter codswollop of the Bible (or the Qur'an, OR the Torah... whatever your pleasure, they're all fictional) and complete atheism. It's called agnosticism, and it's a beautiful thing. I encourage you to check it out. It's simply the assertion that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven. Agnostics belong to the awesome church of "I don't really know."

Think of what a wonderful world we would live in if it were covered with agnostics instead of people who cling so desperately to these fairy tales that they're willing to kill and/or die for them. Think of how much further we'd have advanced as members of the human race if religion hadn't suppressed and tormented free thinkers and scientists for hundreds of years. Think of all the people who wouldn't have died in the name of religion... if only people said, "You know... I really just don't KNOW for sure."

December 2, 2010 at 9:40 pm |

Lila

The only thing shocking is that he cheated with a female.

December 1, 2010 at 12:20 pm |

Chris

Yes, i always thought he seemed gay.

December 1, 2010 at 2:52 pm |

Mary

To the relief of sheep everywhere.

December 1, 2010 at 6:53 pm |

Jim_Missouri

If there is a God up there (and Jesus, too), I think these shysters will have a pretty rough time after death. I'm no Bible expert, but Jesus seemed to have a particular issue with folks that made money using religion. I'm also no psychologist, but I think these television "ministers" live fraudulent lives (bilking the elderly, using tax-dodges, etc.), and that leads to dishonest behavior in all areas.

December 1, 2010 at 12:19 pm |

Kevin

FYI, 'cause you probably didn't know, but "shyster" is one of the most vile anti-Semetic words you can use. So please stop using it.

December 1, 2010 at 2:17 pm |

The Dictionary

Shyster is only an anti-semitic slur if you want it to be. It's only dubiously related to Jews in the first place. Keep using it if you want to refer to someone unethical and ignore the reply above me

December 1, 2010 at 3:13 pm |

Jim_Missouri

Kevin: I looked the word up before I used it to make sure it wasn't anti-semitic. You might want to do the same.

December 2, 2010 at 3:01 am |

MikeMa

Did he cheat with a man or a woman? Or a child? You never know with these loons?

December 1, 2010 at 12:19 pm |

Guest

Who's got the first stone? Good thing he doesn't live in Iran. Oh wait that's for women only.

December 1, 2010 at 12:19 pm |

Lisa Libra

Big surprise.

December 1, 2010 at 12:18 pm |

Ian

How can this man be trusted anymore? He broke the bond of trust between he and his wife...does that not strike a nerve in any of his followers? If it doesn't, they have got to be robotic/in a trance.

December 1, 2010 at 12:17 pm |

AA Harris

Ian, it only shows that he is human...

December 1, 2010 at 10:09 pm |

auguron

Oh no. You don't capriciously disregard your relationships with others and still be considered human. No copouts. He should be forever shamed since he and others like him have put themselves on so high a pedestal above others.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.